Ahead of November election, Nebraska's Don Bacon must fend off tough Republican challenge

OMAHA, Neb. - Nebraska Rep. Don Bacon has held onto his seat for eight years in the state's 2nd Congressional District, one of the country's most competitive, and this election will be no different. Before he faces off with his Democratic opponent in a closely watched race that could help flip the House in November, Bacon has to fend off his far-right and state party-endorsed challenger in the Nebraska primary on May 14.

Endorsed by over 100 state elected officials, including Gov. Jim Pillen and U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, Bacon has strong backing but is missing state party support that was once guaranteed. This election cycle, the Nebraska GOP is instead backing far-right candidate Omaha businessman Dan Frei.

After a leadership change in 2022, the Nebraska GOP has taken a more Populist stance, backing candidates who are staunch supporters of former President Donald Trump instead of the current House and Senate incumbents. Bacon wishes he had the party endorsements, but he says the party's support of far-right candidates, including Frei, who plans on joining the House Freedom Caucus if elected, will not be as successful in a moderate district. The Cornhusker State's 2nd Congressional District earned the name "the blue dot" after it went for President Joe Biden in 2020 by over six points and for former President Barack Obama in 2008.

"I surely would be better if I had the parties on my side in the past I did. I've had the state party and all the county parties, but they've been taken over by I would tell you about the Steve Bannon wing of the party," Bacon told USA Today. "And that's not a winning formula in the 2nd District of Nebraska."

Frei first dipped his toes in politics when he ran for the same seat 10 years ago. He lost to fellow Republican and then-U.S. Rep. Lee Terry in the primary by fewer than 3,000 votes. He says he's running for the same reasons as he did in 2014, including curbing government overreach and tackling the national debt.

Voting in Nebraska's May 14 primary? Here's a Nebraska voting FAQ

"The American people when I ran 10 years where they were just kind of tired not being listened to," Frei told USA Today. "The American people right now in Nebraska and the voters in district two, they're not just tired anymore. They're angry. They're angry that they're not being listened to."

Although the split in endorsements has garnered considerable attention, Casey Dominguez, a professor of political science at the University of San Diego, said its impact depends on other circumstances.

"Party endorsements matter more when they're unified for one candidate," Dominguez said. "In a factional primary like this, you have to consider them against everything else that's going on in the race, like how much media attention it's getting, how much fundraising the candidates have, and how much name recognition that candidates have. If that factional fight gets everybody's attention, then that can be kind of unpredictable."

Dominquez noted that while endorsements can have an impact, factors like money and name recognition in a district can typically go further.

Campaign finance-wise, Bacon has a strong lead with nearly $3.4 million as of March compared to Frei's $86,000. According to Bacon, his campaign has spent roughly $120,000 of its funds on campaigning against his challenger. But Frei is well aware of this disadvantage and says his party endorsements have helped him gain a strong volunteer base.

"The volunteers are coming out of the woodwork, the message has been well received," Frei said. "We're going to be outspent again, probably at least 10-1 if not more. We're okay with that, because we've got the right message and it's at the right time."

Despite the 2nd Congressional District being deep purple, Frei says voters he has talked to want their representative to take a more hardline conservative approach in Congress, while Bacon is known to work across the aisle and make bipartisan deals. But the Congressman says being an elected official is about "governance, decency and diplomacy," which he added is what his constituents in the Second District want to see.

"I'm not a Republican first guy. I'm an I'm a Christian first. I'm an American second. And then I'm a Republican," Bacon told USA Today. "I want to do what's right, and I'm not beholden to a party. I'm beholden to my voters, and my conscience. And that makes me a little different."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Nebraska Rep. Don Bacon tries to fend off tougher challenge in primary